Toy target device



Oct; 18, 1949.

lllllllllll- B. SHENKER' TOY TARGET DEVICE Filed Sept. 14, 1946 INVENTOR. Z222 sky/V6? ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 18, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY TARGET DEVICE Ben Shenker, West Orange, N. J.

Application September 14, 1946, Serial No. 697,119

3 Claims. (01. 273-101.2)

This invention relates to devices having both amusement significance and educational value. More particularly it is adapted for the development of requisite skill in markmanship, and pertains to apparatus for permitting an effective simulation of target practice and for providing an expedient amusement device as well as a practicable toy.

In its preferred embodiment, the invention is predicated on a projectileless weapon, such as a rifle, flexibly supported for expedient handling and aiming relative to an elusive target structurally coordinated therewith. The weapon is adapted for closing an electric circuit, which includes a signaling device, upon actuation of appropriate means, such as the rifle trigger, when the weapon is accurately directed toward the target. In this preferred embodiment, the combined structure manifests the characteristics of sturdine-ss and simplicity requisite of a toy or educational device.

Various devices are available for affording simulated target practice with a, rifle or the like. While these provide an element of amusement and may broadly fulfill the intended usage, the extent of their effectiveness for the purpose contemplated appears to be essentially a function of the complexity of the device. The devices which most expediently serve in the development of skill for manipulating and aiming the weapon are generally intricate and/or cumbersome in their structure, and as a result thereof they are usually impractical as toys, being frequently too involved and delicate in their manipulation to satisfy the requirements of an amusement device. Thus available devices of the prior art directed to an improved target practice simulation have attained increased flexibility at the expense of the sturdiness and structural simplicity generally requisite for educational toy or amusement devices, in their approach to actual conditions in handling of a weapon.

It is an object of this invention to obviate such diiiiculties and uncertainties as hereinabove indicated.

Another object is to provide a device which in its structural characteristics comprises a practicable amusement device as well as an educa tional toy.

An additional object is to attain a target practice device of simple, sturdy structure which affords a substantial latitude of flexibility and a reasonable approach to the actual conditions that prevail in the handling of a weapon.

2 ticable device adapted for simulated target practice and which, in it structural features, conforms with the requisites of an educational toy.

An important object is to produce an amusement or toy device adapted for simulated target practice which embraces features of construction that permit an enhanced development of skill in the handling of a weapon.

A further object of the invention is to obtain a compact, sturdy device adapted for simulated target practice comprising a projectileless weapon, such as a rifle, correlated with an elusive target in a structural combination including an electric circuit which provides an appropriate signal when the weapon is accurately directed toward the target, said device being structurally in the category of a toy.

Other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which similar elements are designated by like numerals.

Fig. 1 is directed to a prospective showing of the device and comprises a rifle with a housing structure for supporting the same as well as for compactly containing means for providing an elusive target and an electric signaling circuit activated by the rifle markmanship.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 relates to a fragmentary sectional View along lines 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 provides a schematic electrical wiring diagram applicable to the light circuit within the housing, and to the signaling circuit adapted to be controlled by the appropriate manipulation and aim of the rifle toward an actuated or moving target.

Referring more particularly to the features of invention embodied in the device shown by the various figures of the drawing, the structure of Fig. 1 is illustrative of a desirable and preferred embodiment of the invention. It comprises a base I which serves as a support for stationary cylinder 2 and provides a portion of the housing for the internal elements of the device. Said stationary cylinder, desirably integrally attached to base I or in any expedient manner made unitary therewith, functions as the upper part of the housing supplementing that provided by base i. The combined housing of base I and stationary cylinder 2 contains the prime mover illustrated by a spring motor, the target actuating means, the signaling device indicated as a bell, the source A significant object of the invention is a pracof E. M. F. comprising electric batteries, means for projecting a target image, and an electric circuit for operating the signaling device including in correlated association the various means referred to. The circuit is subject to activation by the accurate aiming of the rifie relative to the target image 3 projected through slot or aperture 8, as will be apparent from the detailed description of the apparatus and said circuit in the consideration hereinbelow.

Concentrically positioned relative to cylinder 2, and partially extending therein is rifie support 3 also of cylindrical configuration, the rifie or gun 4 being seated in trunnion slot 6 at the upper end of said support 3.

As indicated in Fig. 2, the lower portion 3' of support 3 is of comparatively reduced thickness relative to the upper wall structure thereof. Thereby a slight flange or indentation 45 results, and this functions as a seat for support 3 on neck portion of stationary cylinder 2, when portion 3' of said support 3 is concentrically positioned within said cylinder 2, as will appear from Fig. 2. should correspond substantially with the internal diameter of neck portion 5 to afiord a reasonably close seated association, nevertheless permitting rotation of support 3 with respect to stationary cylinder 2 upon manipulation of rifle G. Since portion 3' may extend into sleeve 25, the external diameter of the former and the internal diameter a of the latter should similarly conform without interfering with any rotation or rotary movement relative to each other.

Spring motor 13 may be fixedly positioned within thebase housing i in any expedient manner, as by conventional screws l3, which serve to attach the motor to upper wall 46 of base I and adjacent bottom 4'! of housing cylinder 2. Drive shaft I4 is appropriately fitted at its extremity with gear !5, the latter being operatively coordinated with gear l5 affixed to the end of vertical drive shaft to within housing I. Gears I5, l5 are shown as bevel and desirably miter gears.

Vertical drive shaft l6 extends upwardly through bushing or bearing l9 located in the cocrdinated openings of wall 46 and bottom 41 of cylinder 2, through which said drive shaft [6 passes into housing cylinder 2. Collars l1, l1, positioned at opposing ends of bearing or bushing is, are attached to shaft I5 by set screws l8, whereby shaft I6 is retained in predetermined position.

Housed within cylinder 2 is inverted cup 23, the latter being made integral with hub in any expedient manner and desirably at attaching flange 22, which occurs in the lower end of the hub and is centrally positioned relative to the base or bottom 48 of inverted cup 23 so as to conform with the opening through said base through which shaft i5 extends. While the attachment of hub 23 to shaft I6 is by set screw 2|, any other expedient means for attachment may be resorted to, such as internally threading hub 20 and correspondingly providing the upper end of shaft 116 with external threads.

Accordingly said inverted cup 23 is mounted for integral rotation with vertical shaft [6, as well as with sleeve 25 which is carried by said cup. Sleeve 25 is superimposed upon bottom 48 of inverted cup 23 and is attached thereto in any desired manner, as by screws 23'. Since a plurality of electrical contact elements 26 are positioned on sleeve 25, as further referred to hereinbelow, said sleeve should preferably be derived from an electrical insulating material, such as a The external diameter of 3 desirably nonconducting synthetic resinous material or a fibrous material, the latter illustrated by cellulosic fibers, illustrated by cardboard, stiff paper or the like.

The peripheral surface 49 of inverted cup 23 is provided with a plurality of lenses 24 spaced apart any predetermined distance, dependent upon the regularity contemplated for the appearance of the target image on any appropriate screen or wall surface. Where it is intended that the target should appear at uniform or regular intervals, the lenses may be positioned degrees apart. Conversely the lenses may be spaced at varying distances from each other to attain an irregular manifestation of the target'on the screen or wall, and thereby functioning to develop astuteness and dexterity in accurately aiming the rifle for closing the signalling circuit. It will be evident that because of the length of slot 3 a moving target is provided by the image projection device as the lens moves across the slot.

As shown in Fig. 2, the lenses may be radially disposed in the same horizontal plane. However to further improve the caliber of marksmanship and skill required, as well as to increase the entertainment value of the device, some or all of the respective lenses may be positioned at different levels relative to a horizontal plane, although this deviation from said plane may be comparatively slight. In connection with such a variation in the positioning of the lenses on the periphery of cup 23, it is merely requisite that aperture 8 should be adapted to appropriately permit the passage of light rays therethrough from all of the respective lenses, as by having the aperture of suitable dimension commensurate with the deviation of the lenses from a given horizontal plane; on the other hand, more than one aperture might be provided to allow for the diiferential elevations of the respective lenses. Accordingly the indication by the drawing of four lenses radially disposed at 90 degrees apart is presented by way of illustration, and the number and positioning of the lenses is subject to variation within the scope of the invention.

It will be understood that the positioning of inverted cup 23, and particularly the lenses peripherally carried thereby, must be suitably correlated with aperture 8 of cylinder housing 2, or vice versa, this being a matter clearly within the skill of one versed in the art of light projection. The light source 4] in its socket 50 is supported within inverted cup 23 by any desirable bracket means 5|, which is sustained in position by portion 52 of the bracket held in place on bottom 41 of cylinder 2 by screw 5301' the like. The supporting of the film bearing the image to be projected may be in accordance with conventional practice in the art of projection. Thus the image film may be supported by any attachment integral with bracket 5i as support 60. The film 6! may be positioned between the light source and the plane of rotation of the lenses, or in any expedient manner conforming with the practice in the art of projecting images. A single film slide is shown but a film having several images may also be used.

The lenses or the image projecting means generally are not directly involved in the electrical signalling circuit. However a contact element 26 is located on sleeve 25 for each lens which occurs on the periphery of inverted cup 23. The positioning of each of said contact elements is correlated with the respective lens in such manner that when the target image appears through said lens and its corresponding contact element 23 is appropriately involved in the closed signalling circuit by skillful manipulation of rifle 4, the signalling device will be actuated; the functioning of the signalling circuit is indicated in Fig. l. adhere to any particular physical form, and as Clearly said contact elements 26 need not adhere to any particular physical form, and as shown in Fig. 2, they comprise conventional screws threaded through sleeve 25 and having a nut washer or any other similar device, between the screw head and the peripheral surface of the sleeve. As in the case of the showing of Fig.

2 pertaining to the lenses, four contact elements 26 are indicated, and they are radially positioned as well as being spaced apart 90 degrees to conform with the four lenses 24 similarly positioned. It will be seen that the location and the number of contact elements 26 will be subject to variation to the same extent as considered hereinabove relative to the differentiated positioning of the lenses that may be resorted to. Thus the spacing apart of the contact elements 23 for irregular distances and varying their position with respect to a given horizontal plane, pursuant to the diiferentiated positioning of the lenses relative to each other, will necessarily tend to develop a high standard of skill and dexterity in the simulated target practice handling of a weapon.

For coordinating rifle 4 with the electric signalling circuit, a movable electric contact rod 3! is sustained within gun support 3 by guides 32, the latter being attached to the wall surface of said support 3 by any preferred means, such as studs and nuts 33. Spring means 35 is mounted on contact rod 3! to maintain the said rod in its uppermost position, with end or point 34 pressing up against the under surface of the gun barrel. Thus spring 35 may be positioned between upper guide means 32 and disc or flange 23, which is integral with rod 3| adjacent the end 33 of said rod. Alternatively one end of spring 35 may be affixed to rod 34, at a point proximate end 34 thereof, as by inserting the wire end through an opening in the rod and splicin or winding the same over itself, thereby preventing the said spring end from coming free of the opening, while the opposing end of the spring 35 may rest upon guide 32.

The pressure association of rod 3| with the barrel of rifle 4 may likewise assume various structural forms within the scope of the invention. For example, end 34 may comprise a yoke upon which the gun barrel 4 is seated. How ever, the end 33 may contact the under surface of the barrel as a point, preferably fitting into an indentation or superficial pocket on the gun surface.

End 53 of contact rod 3! is desirably turned or bent to a substantially right angular position relative to the vertical disposition of said rod, and is directed to frictionally contact the inner surface of insulator sleeve 25 or contact elements 23 positioned thereon. The said sleeve is closely fitted to the peripheral surface of gun support 3 at the lower portion 3 thereof, although free, relative rotation between said gun support 3 and sleeve 25 is permitted and contemplated. It will be noted that the end of support 3 which fits within sleeve 25 is not of uniform length, a portion being cut away, as at 55, to make possible the frictional association between end 54 of rod 3i and the inner surface of said sleeve 25.

Thus as gun 4 is pivoted on trunnion 1 to downwardly direct the gun barrel, movable contact rod 3| is depressed along the inner surface of insulator sleeve 25, thereby permitting contact of end 54 with a contact element 26, which is located at a point below the normal uppermost position of contact rod 3|. Afiording additional flexibility, gun 4 may be rotated on its support 3 relative to cylinder 2 as well as with respect to insulator sleeve 25. Therefore by appropriately aiming rifle 4, end 54 may be brought into contact with any of the respective electric contact elements 26. As previously described, inverted cup 23 carrying the lenses 24 and insulator sleeve 25 rotates with shaft I6 by virtue of actuating means I3.

Within base housing I, a signalling device, exemplified by bell 43, may be attached to any of the wall surfaces, such as on the underside of 46. The source of E. M. F. is presented as a plurality of batteries 38 having appropriate contact terminals 39.

The electric circuit for providing a signal when the aim of the rifle is appropriately correlated with the target, and the circuit containing the light source 4| are shown in Fig. 4. While two distinct circuits may be resorted to for respectively energizing the light source and for activating the signal device, they are desirably coordinated through a master switch, such as I I, which serves to connect batteries 38 with both the said light source and the signalling circuit. With switch i i closed, the signalling circuit remains open until end 54 of movable rod 3! contacts an element 25, and trigger 36 is moved against spring 44 in order to bring hammer 42 into contact with point 43. Conductor line 29 is shown as connecting all of contact elements 26, and at one end is coordinated with point 21 from which a lead not shown may be directed to one of terminals 33 of batteries 38. Similarly the other end of 23 may be directed to the other terminal of the E. M. F. source. These lead lines are not included in the drawing, since their attachment to the batteries is within the skill of the art and in accordance with conventional practice.

In the operation of the device, exemplified by the desirable structural embodiment shown, winding key I0 is operated to appropriately energize spring motor 13, which may be conventially associated with releasable locking means orthe like not shown, for retaining the motor in said energized or wound up condition. Upon releasing said locking means, drive shaft id is caused to rotate, and through gears I5, l5 vertical shaft I6 is similarly rotated together with the assembly mounted thereon comprising sleeve 25 and inverted cup 23, as well as the lenses carried thereby.

Assuming master switch H is closed, as any lens 23 passes aperture 8, the object or target is projected upon an appropriate surface, such as a wall or screen. In aiming weapon 3 at the target image, it is subject to being rotated on its support 3, as well as being pivoted relative to trunnion I. When a given target is appropriately spotted, end 54 of rod 35 comes into frictional engagement with a contact element 26 that is correlated with the lens conforming with the given target image. If, at the interval of the said frictional engagement between end 54 of rod 3i and element 26, trigger 36 is actuated against holding spring 44, the signalling circuit becomes completely closed by hammer 42 contacting point 43, with the result that bell 40 is caused to ring.

In addition to the variation attainable by altering the relative positions of the respective lenses or corresponding contact elements 26, any inherent characteristics of a spring motor in eifecting changes in the rotation speed of drive shaft M will serve to supplement the uncertainties or variations resulting from other sources. In lieu of a spring motor, variable or constant speed electrical motors may be utilized within the purview of the invention. Although the spring-type motor is generally regarded as being characteristic of devices in the category of toys, in view of the simplicity of structure, compactness and sturdiness of the device as a whole, the resort to an electric motor will not substantially alter the adaptability of the device as a toy.

The material from which the device may be made is not considered to be of critical significance. Thus synthetic resins oiier a practical source of material, and the device may also be expediently made from metal in substantial portion, it being understood that under any circumstances the insulation requirements of the electrical circuits will be maintained.

As previously stated, the device shown in the drawing represents a desirable embodiment, but is not to be construed limiting relative to the latitude of the invention. Likewise various structural features of the device are not intended to be restrictive; thus the particular coordination or association of the lenses with their respective electric contact elements represents an effective manner of operation device, but it will be appar ent that this may be subject to changes without deviating from the essential features of the invention. Similarly, the general resemblance of the device to a gun turret structure or the like increases its significance as a toy, but it will be clear that the appearance may be subject to wide variation.

Pursuant to the invention a novel, compact device is attained which is simple and sturdy in its details of construction and is effective in its performance. It expediently lends itself to utilization as a toy or amusement device, and at the same time affords an enhanced means for developing skill and astuteness, as well as for coordinating the various faculties essential to attaining an improved marksmanship relative to an evasive target. In view of the aforementioned properties of the structure, it may be beneficially operated by both young and old.

While I have described my invention in accordance with a preferred embodiment, it is obvious that many changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, I claim:

1. A toy target amusement device comprising a housing having an opening in the top thereof, a light source in said housing, an opening in the housing correlated with said light source, a stationary target image in said housing between the light source and the opening correlated with the light source, a rotatable means for projecting the target image through said opening, a motor for actuating said rotatable image projecting means, an electric contact element rotatable with said rotatable image projecting means and correlated therewith, a cylindrical support extending into said housing through the opening in the top of the housing, and extending outwardly therefrom, said support being rotatable relative to said housing, an electrical conducting rod in said support and rotatable therewith, said rod being movable in a vertical plane so that the lower end of said rod may make contact with said electric contact element, an electric switch in the form of a trigger of a simulated firearm on said support, a signalling device. in said housing, and an electric circuit comprising said electric contact element, said electrical conducting rod, said signalling device and the electric switch in the form of a trigger of a simulated firearm, which electric circuit is adapted to be actuated to operate said signalling device when the electric switch in the form of a trigger is closed at the same time the lower end of the electrical conducting rod is in contact with said electric contact element.

2. A toy target amusement device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the rotatable means for projecting the target image through the opening correlated with the light source comprises an annular cup, and a lens in the periphery of said cup.

3. A toy target amusement device comprising a housing having an annular opening in the center of the top thereof, a signalling device in said housing, a light source in said housing, an openingin the side of the housing correlated with said light source, a stationary target image in said housing between the light source and the opening in the side of the housing, a rotatable annular cup in said housing, a lens in the periphery of the cup correlated with the opening in the side of the housing, an annular sleeve concentrically secured to and superimposed on said cup, means for rotating said cup and the annular sleeve secured thereto, an electric contact element in said sleeve and correlated with said lens, a rotatable cylinder extending through the opening in the top of the housing, the lower end of said cylinder movably fitting in said annular sleeve and the upper end of said cylinder projecting above the housing, an electrical conducting rod secured in said cylinder and rotatable therewith, said rod being also movable in a vertical plane so that the lower end of the rod may make contact with the electric contact element in the sleeve, an electric switch in the form of a trigger of a simulated firearm positioned on the upper end of said cylinder, and an electric circuit comprising said electric contact element, said electrical conducting rod, said signalling device and said electric switch, which electric circuit is adapted to be actuated to operate said signalling device when the electric switch is closed at the same time the lower end of the conducting rod makes contact with said electric contact element.

BEN SHENKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,619,096 Walsh Mar. 1, 1927 1,776,816 Miller Sept. 30, 1930 2,089,901 Kollmayer Aug. 10, 1937 2,116,217 Schwarz May 3,- 1938 2,269,410 New i i Jan. 6, 1942 

